Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-09-28

wife and two glorious daughters. One
OF his girls Is to marry our congress
man next month. Hayes is q self
made man with no nonsense about
him. We call him the poor mans
friend. He is so kind-hearted that he
would not hurt a. hea."
Half an hour later | entered the
mayors Office and found his honor
alone.
It was unnecessary for me to stoop
TO any deception. AS soon as Col.
Hayes SAW me he pronounced my
name.
81 saw you once at Piedras Camp
in California;" he said, motioning me
to a chair.
"You have g. good memory" was
my reply.
SIT is not better than yours. Your
eyes told me that you recognized me-"
My plan before left the hotel was
to call on the mayor and ask for in
formation concerning the town end
it's prospects. 1t was, of course, my
intention to bring up the murder in g.
casual way. I desired to see how
Hayes would look and act while dis
cusslng it.
But this prompt recognition embsr-
raised me.
"You were in the town last week u"
continued the mayor, looking me
straight in the face.
eyes, l was detained here q few
hours"
81 remember seeing you walking up
Main Street with Jones of the Clari-
on"
He said this without tremor.
sit is q pity that you told jones
about that episodeat Piedras Camp"
Col. Hayes eyed me calmly as he
said this, and his manner was entirely
uncOncerned.
"Why should you think -"
ST simply put two and two to-
gether," replied the mayor. Gin fact
you had no sooner left the town than
Jones sought q private interview with
me. He wanted to borrow $4,000
and threw out hint about Piedras
Camp that could not be mistaken.
Then he said he would call in forty
eight hours for a final answer. His
untimely death made it out of the
question for him to keep the appoint
ment."
81 regretted telling JONES'" said,
"and extorted half promise from
him not to repeat it. did not know
his true character"
The mayor carelessly drummed
with his fingers on his desk.
eyes, I am sorry you told
JONES'" he resumed in that clear,
passionless voice peculiar to him,
al IVA ~
There was no malice in it. knew ali
about you in the old days. Your best
friend Jack Black, was my chunn for g
time. I saved Jacks life once, and he
atuck to me like brother after that.
l know you ere thinking about that
horse screpe. stole the animal-no
doubt about that. But | was in
tight place. had to steal Or starve,
and took the horse. / think I have
made up for it since. My conscience
does not bother me-"
81 knew it was just that way" con-
tinued Hayes; II knew that Jack
Blacks old pard was too square a
man to injure fellow in my slJua-
ton. But it is all right now?Jones is
dead, and [ am not afraid that the
story about the horse will ever come
out"
"Under the circumstances" I eug-
gested, sit would be q terrible blow to
your family"
eyes, and the man who could hound
me down and bring up that Old charge
would be deserved to be killed like a
dog"
l shuddered. Somebody had been
killed like dog.
"Here [ am talking about old
times,'' laughed the mayor, without
giving you a chance TO state your
business with me. Let me soc. You
were passing through the place, and
as you had heard something of our
boom you naturally came to me to
make q few INQUIRIES. Am l right ?'
He fastened his shrewd eyes upon
mine with the faintest suspicion of
smile about the corners OF his mouth.
did not get away from the mayor
that day, nor that night. We drove
over the town. I went home with
him, and found that Mrs. Hayes ard
her daughters more than deserved
what had heard of them.
But was Hayes guilty OF the murder
OF Jones?
This question was always passing
through my mind. One thing was
certain. The people of lingo did not
suspect Hayes, and the man who
made such q charge against him with
out ample proof would have been in
danger of mob violence.
At the train the next morning the
mayor said, as he shook me by the
hand:
"Well, We are the only two men now
living who know about Piedras Camp
matter. There was another, the other
day, but he is dead. Good-byeP'
AS the train rolled off caught alast
glimpse of the mayor of lingo. He
was bending down and wiping away
the tears of a ragged little urchin who
was crying his eyes out because his
mother was speeding away from him
| on the outgoing train.
A TTTT u child eooinu onn+t10y Snn1Q.